134 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALER. 



least suspicious-looking man in the lot is told off to 

 assist Coper No. 1 in the intended swindle. 



The best trotting horse in the lot of screws which 

 form, their joint stock, is saddled and bridled, and 

 stationed at a certain rendezvous, for it is more than 

 probable he will be required. A very good-looking 

 horse is then turned over to Coper No. 2. This horse, 

 in addition to being a roarer, has been " nerved" (a term 

 used among horse copers for the operation called " neu- 

 rotonomy"), that is, if a horse is lame in his feet (na- 

 vicular disease is the most common malady to which 

 the operation of neurotonomy is applied), he is relieved 

 by a separation of the nerve which supplies the foot 

 with feeling ; the horse will then go sound ; but this 

 is an operation which requires a great amount of skill, 

 and is but seldom practised by veterinary surgeons upon 

 gentlemen's horses ; for although the horse may be re- 

 lieved of the agony proceeding from navicular or any 

 other disease of the feet by this operation, he is never 

 considered safe to ride or drive afterwards. 



Copers, however, often have recourse to this operation ; 

 and, as practice makes perfect, they think no more of 

 nerving a horse than they do of " setting him" for 

 broken wind, or dosing a kicker with opium. The 

 horse is cast on his side, and secured with hobbles, an 

 incision is made in the skin of the shank, just above the 

 fetlock, and laid back. The nerve and sinews are all 

 exposed. The nerve is then divided, when the horse is 

 turned over, and the like operation performed on the 



